Curtains 101

Use window treatments in stylish and functional ways to pull a room together.

1 of 10

Spruce Up Your Space With Curtains

Draperies do more than block out the sun. Window treatments can transform a room, adding personality and character. With endless patterns, dimensions, and hardware options available, it’s easy to let your style shine through.

Advertisement

2 of 10

Try Reversible Panels

These custom-made drapery panels, with the green-and-ivory plaid visible from both inside and outside the house, help tie together the room’s color palette. The curtains pool at the floor with a few inches of extra fabric, offering a look that’s consistent with the room’s formal decor.

3 of 10

Let Curtains Define a Space

These gingham curtains frame the desk area, setting it apart from the room. Slightly pleated at the heading, the curtains break at the floor by a few inches, creating a relaxed feel that softens the look. The added length also allows for imperfect measuring.

Advertisement

4 of 10

Keep It Casual

Café curtains, hung at or near a window’s midpoint, are perfect for kitchens or anywhere you’d like to create an informal atmosphere. They’re also a great way to add a pop of color when full coverage isn’t needed. These are hung using rings with clips, so any piece of fabric can be used as a curtain.

Advertisement

5 of 10

Customize Ready-Made Panels

Wide bands of fabric at the headings of these draperies turn ready-made into a bolder statement. Get this look for your home by purchasing inexpensive solid curtain panels and adding horizontal bands of fabric or ribbon in decreasing widths. Try strips in 1-, 2-, and 4- inch widths, evenly spaced. You’ll achieve a custom look without the custom price tag.

Advertisement

6 of 10

Add Style With a Pelmet

These curtain panels are hung behind a pelmet (also known as a cornice), so the hardware doesn’t distract from the elegant fabric. The structured frame, used to enclose the top of a curtain, adds a touch of formality. With this installation, you don’t have to worry about what kind of curtain rod to buy; it’s hidden from view, so an inexpensive stock one will do. Custom-made pelmets offer a cohesive look when built to match crown molding.

Advertisement

7 of 10

Soften Your Space

Linen draperies hung corner to corner at the top of the wall give the illusion of higher ceilings and bigger windows. Finished with a pocket through which the curtain rod slides, the draperies soften the room by flanking the window with unbroken expanses of fabric.

Note: What this fabric hides might surprise you: audio equipment that’s mounted to the wall. Linen is a good choice because sound can flow through without being muffled.

Advertisement

8 of 10

Choose Curtains That Fit Your Needs

Café curtains are a great way to keep glare off your computer without cutting out all light. The metal grommets are a simple alternative to fussy rings, which would overwhelm this small nook.

Advertisement

9 of 10

Update a Classic

For a look that’s clean and streamlined, hang panels with a matching valance. This curtain’s simple dot pattern updates the traditional-style treatment and, hung against white walls, gives a modern edge.